Green Fleet

Lightning Systems to Offer Electric Transit Van

Lightning Systems will offer commercial fleets a battery-electric heavy duty Ford Transit van in early 2018 under a partnership with New Eagle, the vehicle modifier announced.

The Loveland, Colo.-based Lightning Systems will install its zero-emissions electric powertrain on the Class 3 Transit with a GVWR of 10,360 pounds. New Eagle of Ann Arbor, Mich. will supply the mechanical controls that provide the electronic brain of the system.

The vehicle, which will be known as LightningElectric, will retain its factory warranty because it falls under Ford's eQVM program.

The van will offer a range of 125 miles and a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds. The vehicle uses a "high-voltage lithium battery pack" that can be charged overnight on 120 volts and in less than three hours with 240 volts (Level 2).

Lightning Systems’ battery-electric Ford Transit LightningElectric will provide a fuel economy rating of 61 MPGe in the city and 66 MPGe on the highway, according to the vehicle modifier, which will display it for fleets around the U.S. in April and May.

Workhorse showed off its N-GEN electric delivery van, with a range of 100 miles, in San Francisco prior to the launch of its four-vehicle delivery pilot. Read more about the N-GEN here. Photos courtesy of Workhorse and by Thi Dao

The Most Innovative Vehicle award went to Workhorse for its W-15 electric pickup truck, the Most Innovative Safety Product award was presented to J.W. Speaker Corporation for the Model 8910 Evolution 2 LED headlight, and the Most Innovative Truck Equipment honor went to CARR for its Factory Step.